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Date Published: 29/05/2026

DGT to refund 25,840 drivers after faulty speed camera fines in Cádiz

The traffic authority has admitted a signpost mismatch on the A-7 near San Roque and Algeciras

The DGT (Spanish traffic authority) has been forced to cancel thousands of speeding fines and refund the money after a poorly signposted speed camera on the A-7 motorway in Cádiz was found to be operating with a discrepancy between the road signs and the radar setting.

The problem affects the average speed camera on the Mediterranean Highway between San Roque and Algeciras, which began operating in September 2025. While a vertical road sign allowed drivers to travel at 100 km/h, the camera was configured to punish anyone going over 80 km/h. That mismatch meant thousands of motorists were fined for exceeding a limit that did not match the signage on the road.

In total, the DGT will refund the money from fines issued to 25,840 drivers. The issue came to light after one driver, who received two fines for €100 and €300, challenged the penalties and argued that the signage was contradictory.

Once the complaint was reviewed, the authority accepted that the road had not been properly adapted to the regulations and has now moved to annul the sanctions. In practical terms, that means motorists who were wrongly penalised in that stretch should not have to pay the tickets, and those who already did will get their money back.

For drivers who think they may have been affected by a similar mistake, the rules for appealing are straightforward. A challenge must be filed within 20 calendar days of receiving the notice. It can be submitted through the DGT’s online portal using Cl@ve, by post or in person at a traffic office.

The appeal can be based on insufficient evidence or procedural defects, and the San Roque case shows that contradictory signage is enough to invalidate a fine. If a penalty notice does not match the road signs or the posted limit, it is worth checking carefully before paying.

There is, however, one important catch. Starting a claim automatically removes the 50% discount for early payment, so drivers should not appeal fines that were properly issued by the DGT unless they have a clear reason to challenge them.

For many motorists, this case will feel like a reminder to keep an eye not only on the speedometer, but also on whether the signs on the road actually make sense.

Image: Googlemaps

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